Flower Falls and Crystal Calls

What Are Those?

Chapter 2 

Caius had not known what to expect when he had been approached by Paddra Nsu-Yeul that morning. As he was only the apprentice guardian, he rarely had the opportunity to interact with her directly. Most of her instructions were given through his mentor, and the current guardian, Paddra Lor-Praes.

Instead, they both came to him, and the Seeress addressed him directly. He knelt and listened as she placed her tiny hand on his head. "Paddra Sol-Caius, listen well. I have seen that an emissary of the goddess is to be sent. You must travel outside Paddra to meet this person and bring them back here. Whether this is an omen of ill or good has yet to be seen."

Caius had not questioned the order, though he did have questions about other aspects. He kept his head bowed. "May I ask two things?"

"Of course."

"How am I to know the person I am looking for, and where will I find him?"

He didn't see the slight upturn of Yeul's lips, nor did he hear it in her voice when she answered. "There will be a sign you cannot mistake. The only guidance I can give you is to head toward the Steppes. You will know what you seek when you find it."

Caius was frustrated by her answer, but he did not let it show. As he approached the edge of the Steppes and a flash of light pierced the sky, he instantly understood. There were four other hunters with him. Even as formidable as he was, it would not be realistic for him to go alone, nor would it be honorable to greet a messenger of the goddess with so little respect, be their intentions ill or not.

They made it the edge of the pass in time to see the person land in the grasses a short distance away. Caius had dropped into position to lunge forward if necessary as he saw the grasses starting to sway, but his attention was drawn when the person stood, and it was not a man as he had expected, but a woman. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a high tail, and her clothing was unusual.

That was the least of what caused his shock. He stood straight as he watched her scan the area with one quick sweep before she turned toward a nearby copse of trees. His eyes widened as he realized she was going to try and outrun the gorgonopsid pack. The hunter next to him started to run to her aide, and Caius held up his arm. They were still close enough to rush to her aide if necessary, but he had a feeling it would not be. He wanted to see how this played out.

He took a step forward as she launched herself from a small pile of rocks and used it to propel herself further. When she made it to the trees, she used her momentum to swing up and climbed with little effort. One of the hunters next to him finally spoke up nervously. "Caius, she is no hunter. She has no weapon. We cannot leave her."

Caius knew they were right, of course, but he wasn't ready to move yet. They could still see her clearly, and her actions spoke of self-preservation, but not fear. His thoughts were confirmed when she turned back to the growling beasts and returned the favor. The apprentice guardian had to clamp his jaws shut to keep from laughing at the sight of the petite woman roaring at the large carnivores.

When she turned back toward the top of the tree, he sighed and motioned his hunters to fan out. They would sneak up on the pack and take them out without harming the woman. Their plans were thwarted when they were nearly upon the small pack when several sharpened sticks came pelting down from the woman's location. They were too small to do much damage, but they were enough to drive the beasts away from her perch. Had the hunters not been waiting, it would only have been temporary, but they each took advantage of the confused and fleeing animals and cut them down before they could counter. They whooped as the last one went down. Not only had they easily fulfilled their duty, but they would bring back a good haul as well.